The world of wine has always been associated with sophistication, elegance, and a sense of refined taste. However, it may surprise you to discover that some of the world&#39;s most renowned NBA players have not only conquered the basketball court but also ventured into the captivating world of winemaking. In this comprehensive article, we will explore the fascinating stories behind NBA players turned vintners, discover their exceptional wines, and uncover the origins of their passion for winemaking.

<ol>
	<li>Tony Parker - TP Wines: NBA legend Tony Parker, known for his illustrious career with the San Antonio Spurs, has also found success in the world of winemaking. Through his venture TP Wines, Parker has established a reputation for producing exceptional wines. The grapes for his wines are sourced from the esteemed vineyards in France&#39;s Bordeaux region. With a focus on Bordeaux blends, TP Wines showcases Parker&#39;s commitment to excellence on and off the court. Critics have praised his wines for their complexity, balance, and remarkable aging potential. Notable releases include the TP Reserve, a bold red blend with dark fruit flavors and velvety tannins, earning an impressive critic score of 93.</li>
	<li>Carmelo Anthony - Melo Wines: Carmelo Anthony, a prolific NBA scorer who has played for several teams including the Portland Trail Blazers, is no stranger to the world of wine. With Melo Wines, he has crafted a portfolio of wines that reflect his appreciation for fine craftsmanship and dedication. Anthony&#39;s wines predominantly hail from Napa Valley, California, known for its world-class wines. One of his standout creations is the Melo 7 Cabernet Sauvignon, showcasing rich black fruit flavors, supple tannins, and a long, satisfying finish. Critics have awarded this wine an impressive score of 92, highlighting its quality and attention to detail.</li>
	<li>Dwyane Wade - Wade Cellars: Dwyane Wade, a three-time NBA champion and celebrated player, has transitioned his passion for winemaking into a successful venture with Wade Cellars. Collaborating with renowned winemaker Jayson Pahlmeyer, Wade produces premium wines that embody his personality and flair. Wade Cellars&#39; flagship wine, the Wade Cabernet Sauvignon, is sourced from the esteemed Napa Valley and showcases the region&#39;s exceptional terroir. With its velvety texture, layers of dark fruit, and refined tannins, the Wade Cabernet has garnered critical acclaim, receiving a remarkable score of 95.</li>
	<li>Channing Frye - Chosen Family Wines: Channing Frye, known for his championship-winning stint with the Cleveland Cavaliers, has made a name for himself in the wine industry with Chosen Family Wines. Frye&#39;s passion for winemaking stems from his family&#39;s love for wine, and he channels this enthusiasm into producing exceptional varietals. Chosen Family Wines specializes in small-lot, single-vineyard wines sourced from California&#39;s premier wine regions. The Chosen Family Pinot Noir, with its vibrant red fruit aromas, silky texture, and well-integrated acidity, has garnered critical praise and a commendable score of 91.</li>
	<li>James Harden - 13 Wines: James Harden, an NBA superstar known for his scoring prowess, has ventured into winemaking with his label, 13 Wines. Harden&#39;s wines reflect his commitment to excellence and attention to detail. Sourced from top vineyards in California, the 13 Wines portfolio showcases a range of varietals, including Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon.&nbsp;</li>
</ol>

The world of wine has always been associated with sophistication, elegance, and a sense of refined taste. However, it may surprise you to discover that some of the world's most renowned NBA players have not only conquered the basketball court but also ventured into the captivating world of winemaking. In this comprehensive article, we will explore the fascinating stories behind NBA players turned vintners, discover their exceptional wines, and uncover the origins of their passion for winemaking.

When Passion Unites: NBA Players and their Exquisite Wines

Wines from grapes grown in higher altitude areas with cooler climate has become quite the trend recently. This specific growing environment gives intense flavor but elegance and freshness to the final wines. To highlight and champion these conditions more and more winemakers are starting to use alto as a marketing and labelling term to show their grapes were grown in high altitude vineyards.

Decoding the wine label: Alto

Brut is a word often seen on labels for different kinds of sparkling wine. As you may have discovered when drinking these wines, it indicates that the wine is dry, meaning there is no perceived sweetness in the wine. But how about Extra Brut or Dry, what do they mean and are they the same as Brut?

Decoding the wine label: Brut

Semi-sweet Riesling, a type of wine falling out of style. It’s a shame, since these wines are perfect to pair with flavorful cuisines like Asian or Mexican, or simply drink as they come under the summer sun. The higher level of sugar left in the wine also means that the alcoholic fermentation was stopped before finishing, providing a wine with lower alcohol level and therefor easier grabbing a second glass of.

Decoding the wine label: Spätlese

Have you ever heard the word Xinomavro? Most have not. It is however a word on many sommeliers’ lips today, as it happens to be considered the grape variety with the highest quality in Greece, and one that is trending at the moment. The fact that Greece have been making wine for a long time comes as no surprise, but they have never exported an amount to make sure wine lovers around the globe tried it. With the growing wine tourism many have discovered these wines and are serving them in wine bars and restaurants in many countries today.

Decoding the wine label: Xinomavro

Chianti Classico, Valpolicella Classico, Soave Classico… Why do all these Italian wine regions have the Classico addendum and what does it mean? What is the difference for wines labeled as Classico?

Classico is a wine term in Italy seen on a few wine labels and it indicates that the wine’s from the historic center of the region, the heart. Using Chianti and Chianti Classico and their Sangiovese-based red wines as an example, Chianti is a rather large wine district within the Tuscany region. Chianti Classico is located withing Chianti as the central part and the one that originally existed. Back then this smaller region was actually called Chianti, but as the region grew the quality of the wine plummeted and the well-known characteristics of these red wines were watered down. The reputation took a hit and sales diminished. Eventually this led to the creation of Chianti Classico, which would be drawn from the original Chianti borders to recover the typicity of these wines. Today the quality of both Chianti and Chianti Classico have risen a lot due to modern techniques and knowledge about pruning, planting and temperature control in the winery.

Decoding the wine label: Classico

In the rarefied world of fine wine, where bottles can command prices equivalent to luxury cars, authenticity is everything. Laurent Ponsot's gripping memoir "FBI: Fake Bottle Investigation" reads more like a high-stakes thriller than a traditional wine book, chronicling his relentless pursuit of one of the wine world's most infamous counterfeiters, Rudy Kurniawan.

From Burgundy's Vineyards to the FBI's Most Wanted: A Winemaker's Quest for Justice

Chablis – one of the more popular styles of wine today and a region known by many. Most are familiar with the word Chablis and the light, fresh white wine with a touch of minerality it brings. Even though it’s a renowned wine, few knows what it really is.

Decoding the wine label: Chablis

Many grape varieties around the world of wine have names local to the region or country they’re grown in, even though they’re exactly the same. The most famous example would be Syrah in France where the same grape is named Shiraz in Australia. Another variety with two names is Pinot Grigio, or Pinot Gris.

Decoding the wine label: Pinot Grigio

Have you ever seen the term sur lie on a wine label? It’s not a grape and not a wine region, but a winemaking method used to give certain styles of white wine a rounder texture and a more complex flavor profile.

Decoding the wine label: Sur lie

Craft

Robert Tas interviews Cheron Cowan, an Advanced Sommelier from Court of Master Sommeliers and the beverage director from Craft, Tom Colicchio’s flagship restaurant in Manhattan.

Wine List Review of Craft, Manhattan, New York City

Robert Tas

Craft

RT: Hello and Welcome to CorkRules!&nbsp;

Excited to announce our CorkRules app is now available for download, it has 40K of your favorite restaurants where you can get personalized recommendations, price transparency and connect with your friends. It&rsquo;s a place to discover and order wine with confidence.

Welcome to today&rsquo;s podcast where&nbsp;we review a wine list from your favorite restaurants. I&rsquo;m your host Robert Tas along with Cheron Cowan, Advanced Sommelier from Court of Master Sommeliers and the beverage director from Craft Restaurant in NYC.

Hello Cheron,&nbsp;it&rsquo;s great to have you join us here on CorkRules.

CC: Hi Robert! Excited to be here.

RT: Before we jump in, let&rsquo;s talk about CorkRules.

We created CorkRules to demystify wine lists because we know from experience, that sometimes when we get that list handed to us, well&hellip; it can be intimidating, and even a little daunting.

Our aim is to help prepare you to navigate that list, find those hidden gems, or value wines or that special bottle that will take your dining experience over the top.

RT: So today, we are talking Tom Colicchio&rsquo;s flagship restaurant in NYC Craft. Restaurant is located in the Flatiron area of Manhattan. It has a great vibe, dramatic setting, and very inviting feel. This is one of my favorite places to have a meal.

Cheron, as you know I recently had the pleasure of dining with you and I super excited to chat about your list. But I&rsquo;d like to start by getting to know you.

CC: Tell me about your background, journey to Craft, and special experiences. Talk about your wine journey with Masters of Sommeliers.

RT: Wow impressive. Alright, let&rsquo;s jump into your fabulous list.

CC: Give an overview of the list, highlight some key areas.

RT: Let&rsquo;s talk about BTG program, I always think this is a great way for folks to try cool stuff. I also love all your half bottle selections.

CC: Overview, then give 2-3 options be specific.

RT: Cool. Your list has a lot to offer, what are some the unique offerings that I might not see on other lists. Anything off the beat and path?

CC: 2-3 options, be specific.

RT: What about some hidden gems for value hunters.

RT: Alright, I&rsquo;m gonna throw you a softball, Craft has hosted many celebrations. What are your recommendations for my big night out?

CC: Give 2-3 options, be specific.

RT: Cheron Thank you so much joining us here on CorkRules talking about the fabulous list at Craft.

CC: &hellip;

RT: &nbsp;

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

To our audience, thank you all for joining us here on CorkRules.

&nbsp;

If you would like us to review one of your favorite restaurants, please send us email to: <a href="mailto:Info@corkrules.Com">Info@CorkRules.Com</a> or visit our web website where we have a request form available.

We are looking forward to being with you on another CorkRules episode soon. In the meantime, please download the CorkRules app that has over 40K restaurants that provides personalized recommendations, provides price transparency and allows you to connect you&rsquo;re your friends. Order with confidence.

And finally, drink what you love and please make sure you drink responsibly.

Thank you.

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End

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BRAT

Bocca di Lupe

Gap Weekend: A Film Shoot in Wine Country

Alba Restaurant

Alba

10 Greek Street

L'Auberge Chez Francois

Andrew Edmunds

Salt Seafood and Oyster Bar

Matteos Ristorante Italiano

Matteo's

Terredora is a family-owned winery located in the heart of Campania, Italy. The winery was founded in 1994 by Walter Mastroberardino, a renowned winemaker with over 40 years of experience in the industry. Terredora is committed to producing high-quality wines that showcase the unique terroir of Campania.

A contemporary take on French cooking in a brasserie with a chic bar & offbeat artwork.

Viva Garcia

Brera Osteria

Buddy V's

Yardbird

CHICA Las Vegas

Chica

Bar Zazu

Hell's Kitchen, Las Vegas

Brera

Jasmine

homepage

CorkRules application allows you to discover wines at your favorite restaurants, learn with friends and be confident with price transparency. Order wine with confidence at restaurants and retailers. Get personalized recommendations. #DrinkWhatYouLove

Le DeSales

J Vineyards

Pinot Noir (Monterey/Sonoma/Santa Barbara) 2019

Pinot Noir

California, USA

Terre di Bo

Barolo DOCG, Piedmont 2017

Piedmont, Italy

Casa Silva

Carmenere 2018

Carmenere

Central Valley, Chile

Elk Cove

Shea Pinot Noir 2018

Pinot Noir

Oregon, USA

Pierre Sparr

Cremant d'Alsace Brut Rose NV

Pinot Noir

France

Elk Cove

Estate Pinot Noir 2018

Pinot Noir

Willamette Valley, USA

Perrier-Jouët

Grand Brut Champagne NV

Chardonnay

Champagne, France

Royal Provence

Rivarose Brut NV

Shiraz/Syrah

Méditerranée, France

Domaine Thibert

Pouilly-Fuisse Heritage 2020

Chardonnay

Burgundy, France

Charles Orban

Carte Noire Brut Champagne NV

Blend

Champagne, France

Michel Turgy

Reserve Selection Blanc de Blancs Brut Champagne Grand Cru 'Le Mesnil-sur-Oger' NV

Chardonnay

Champagne, France

Domaine Thevenot le Brun et Fils Bourgogne Hautes Cotes de Nuits Blanc 2021

Burgundy, France

Louis Latour

Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru 2018

Chardonnay

Corton-Charlemagne, France